Bathing suit



Aug. 24 1926. i

v H. F. STEPH 5 BATHING S Filed Nov. 16, 1925 WITNESSES INVENTOR Ev /11ml; 5717/11 bf ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrice.

IIERIVIAN F. STEPHENS, OF HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO WEST COAST KNITTING MILLS, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

BATI-IING SUIT.

Application filed November This invention relates to bathing suits, the primary object of the invention being to provide a bathing suit having a seamless crotch, or, in other words, a bathing suit in which the trousers portion at the crotch is devoid of seams or other uneven surfaces which not only renders the garment comfortable to the wearer but greatly lengthens the life thereof.

With a suit of this character there are 'no seams to tear or rip in either the seat or crotch, which is the point of greatest strain. Furthermore, a garment having superior fitting qualities is provided because of the increased elasticity of the ribbed fabric over that of a seam. Furthermore, the suit can be made at an appreciably low cost and gives increased wearing qualities and greater comfort to the wearer.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and ar rangements of parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved bathing suit on a mans figure;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary View in front elevation of the trousers portion of the garmerit;

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure & is a view in longitudinal section on the line i& of Figure 2, showing the I lower portion of the complete garment.

The trousers portion of my improved bathing suit is woven or knitted in a single piece, the intermediate portion 1 of the same constituting the crotch and the end portions constituting the front 2 and the back 2' of the trousers, which are connected at the sides by scams 3 or other securing means. a

The intermediate portion 1 is formed with openings i to which leg portions 5 may be secured. The said trousers may be connected around the intermediate portion of the body 7 of the garment having the skirt 6 to form the present style of bathing suit for both men and women.

It is this idea of constructing a bathing 16, 1925. Serial No. 69,493.

suit in which the crotch and front and back of the garment comprise a single piece which constitutes the broad inventive concept of my invention as it provides a seam less crotch as well as a seamless seat portion, and, in fact, the garment is devoid of seams except at the sides and around the leg openings. I

The body portion with its skirt constitutes a separate member to which the trousers are secured, and the leg extensions are also separate portions attached to the intermediate portion of the trousers material at the leg openings.

All garments of this nature of which I have any knowledge haveseams of one sort or another in the crotch or in the seat portion or in both portions and such seams weaken and are apt to open particularly when the bathing suit is subjected to the action of salt water. Furthermore, these seams are uncomfortable to the wearer and disfiguring to the garment. My invention overcomes these defects and provides a garment which is a distinct improvement in the art.

Various slight changes and alterations might be made in the general form of the parts described without departing from my invention and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim As a new article of manufacture, a bathing suit, the trousers portion of which constitutes a close fitting garment made from a single piece of ribbed elastic fabric, the intermediate portion thereof forming a seamless crotch of the garment and the end portions thereof constituting the front and back of the garment, said front and back of the garment secured together at the sides of the garment, the intermediate or crotch portion of the garment having leg openings therein, and the material between the leg openings being seamless whereby the garment at the crotch is capable of maximum lateral stretching.

HERMAN F. STEPHENS. 

